Nasal comparator



June 12, 1956 G. 5. LEE ET AL 2,749,908

' NASAL COMPARATOR Filed June 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 CHARLES F. YOUNG June 12, 1956 5, LEE ET AL 2,749,908

' NASAL COMPARATOR Filed June 18, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN VEN TORS GEORGE 5 LEE BY CHARLES F. YOUNG nited States Patent fiice 2,749,998 Patented June 12, 1956 NASAL COMPARATOR George S. Lee, St. Michaels, Md., and Charles F. Young, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application June 18, 1954, Serial No. 437,813

9 Claims. (Cl. 128-2) This invention relates to nasal comparators and'more particularly to a device for comparing the amount of air exhaled through nasal passages.

It has been common practice to compare the capacity of lungs with such instruments as spirometers and the like, but no device has been devised up to the present time for comparing the amount of air that will flow through nasal passages. The present invention contemplates the provision of such a device which discloses and records the amount of air that may .be exhaled through each nostril simultaneously or individually, as may be desired. This information will enable a diagnostician to furnish positive evidence to his patient of obstructions such as growths, polyps, concentrated discharge and the like.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device of the above character which will accurately indicate for comparison the amount of air exhaled through nasal passages.

Another object is to provide a device of the above character which will indicate for comparison and record the amount of air exhaled through nasal passages.

A further object is to provide a device of the above character the use of which will be simple and which may be quickly and easily operated by the user.

Still another object is to provide a device of the above character which may be manufactured from inexpensive materials and yet be of such sturdy construction as to withstand long usage.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein a preferred embodiment of the principles of the invention has been selected for exemplification.

In the accompanying drawings:

Fig. l is a front view of a nasal comparator constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side view partly in section of the device shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 33 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 4-4 of Fig. 3, looking in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view taken along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Similar reference characters refer to Similar parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, the nasal comparator is generally indicated at 1 and the recording tape advancing mechanism at 2. These two components are detachably mounted on a suitable platform 3. Extending outwardly and downwardly from the comparator are flexible tubes 4 and 5 which will be described hereinafter in detail.

The nasal comparator consists of two expansible chambers 6 and 7, which effect the movement of indicators 8 and 9 respectively as well as scribers 10 and 11. Expansible chamber 7, which is identical in structure to expansible chamber 6, is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. Base member 12 is provided with a bore 13 the underside of which is connected to an elbow 14. Elbow 14 serves as a fitting over which one end flexible tube 5 is suitably secured. Centrally positioned over bore 13 on the top of base member 12 is a circular diaphragm 15, which may be made of rubber, plastic, or other suitable material, held air tight thereto by ring 16. The means shown to effect the securing of ring 16 and diaphragm 15 to the base member 12 are multiple screws 17 threaded into the base.

A member 18, perpendicular and suitably secured to base member 12 is provided with dual arcuate scales 19 and 20 on its outer surface for indicators 8 and 9. The inside of member 18 serves as a mounting for the connecting means between expansible chambers 6 and 7 to the indicators 8 and 9 and the scribers 10 and 11.

Referring now to Figs. 3, 4 and 5, a flat circular disc 21, having a round upright shaft 22 centrally secured thereto, rests on diaphragm 15. The top of shaft 22 is slotted, as at 23, and pivotally connected to lever arm 24. A washer shaped ring 25, equal in diameter to disc 21, rests on disc 21. Ring 25 provides additional weight to disc 21 to insure that indicator 9 will normally return to Zero position after use. A segment gear 26 is secured to lever arm 24 at its inner end and both pivot as a unit on bearing 27 which is mounted on the inside of member 18. The length of lever arm 24 exactly positions disc 21 in the center of diaphragm 15.

Indicator 9, positioned on the exposed side of member 18, pivots on shaft 27 which extends through member 18 and terminates in gear wheel 29. Shaft 27 rotates freely but its lateral movement is restrained as by collars 30. The cogs of gear wheel 29 mesh with the cogs of segment gear 26. It is therefore apparent that movement of segment gear 26 through action of lever arm 24 actuates indicator 9.

Scriber 11, positioned on the inner side of member 18, pivots on bearing 31, mounted on member 18. Its upper end is fitted with a pen 32, or other scribing means, while its lower end, which extends beyond bearing 31, has attached thereto a roller 33 adapted to rest on and cooperate with a rounded end 34 of segment gear 26. A fiat spring 35, secured to base 12, presses against roller 33 urging it into contact with rounded end 34 of segment gear 26. It is therefore apparent that movement of segment gear 26 actuates scriber 11 as well as indicator 9.

The recording tape advancing mechanism 2 may be of any commercial type now available on the market. It is shown here semi-diagrammatically in Figures 1 and 2. A tape 36, from a roll 28, passes through guiding slots 37 on the face of the device and back inside over motor driven roller 38. Roller 38 is driven by means of a loop belt 39 connected to a motor 44), preferably electrical. To insure a firm contact between roller 38 and tape 36 a spring 41 tensioned roller 42 presses the tape firmly against the roller. A tear off blade 43 is positioned near the slot where the tape 36 passes out of the tape advancing mechanism housing. Preferably this is fitted with the usual serrated teeth (not shown).

Referring to flexible tubes 4 and 5 it will be noted that the end of each terminates in a conical-shaped fitting 44. These fittings are adapted to be held to the outlet of each nostril. For sanitary reasons they may be detached for sterilization when necessary.

The operation of the device is simple and eflicient. The tape advancing mechanism 2 unwinds the tape from its roll past the scribers and out of the top of the housing. The user places a fitting 44 in each nostril outlet and exhales keeping his mouth closed. The air thus exhaled enters the expansible chambers 6 and 7 forcing their respective diaphragms upward. This movement actuates lever arms 24 which in turn translates the movement to the indicators and the scribers. Ir" a nasal passage is partially blocked, less air will reach the expansible chamber connected to it than the expansible chamber connected to the nasal passage which is clear. This difierence may be compared visually by noting the difference in movement of the indicators and is recorded on the moving tape by the scribers which will mark the tape with waving lines such as those generally indicated at 45. If both nasal passages are equally clear indicators t5 and 9 Will advance an equal amount on the scales 19 and 20 and the recordings on the tape will be equal as well.

It is within the concept of this invention that the device may be used without the recording means affording the patient a visual comparison alone. The recording feature, however, will permit a record to be l-tept so that it may be compared with recordings made at a later date.

As many possible embodiments may be made of the above invention and, as many changes might be made in the embodiment above set forth, it is to be understood that all matter hereinabove set forth, or shown in the accompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

We claim:

1. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent coupled indicators and scribers connected to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to communicate operating pressure to said indicators and scribers through said chambers, comparative scales for said indicators, and a motor driven tape to record the comparative movements of said scribers, whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared and recorded.

2. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent indicators connected to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to communicate operating pressure to said indicators, and comparative scales for each of said indicators whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared.

3. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent coupled indicators and scribers, lever and gearing means connecting said indicators and scribers to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of. said chambers adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to communicate operating pressure to said indicators and scribers through said chambers, comparative scales for said indicators, and a motor driven I} tape to record the comparative movements of said scribers, whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared and recorded.

4. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent cxpansiole chambers, independent indicators, lever and gearing means connecting said indicators to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to communicate operating pressure to said indicators, and comparative scales for each of said indicators whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared.

5. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent coupled indicators and scribers connected to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers, conical terminals for said tubing adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to comate operating pressure to said indicators and mun scribers through said chambers, comparative scales for said indicators, and a motor driven tape to record the comparative movements of said scribers, whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared and recorded.

6. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent indicators connected to said chambers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers, conical terminals for said tubing adapted to be held to a nostril outlet whereby to communicate operating pressure to said indicators, and comparative scales for each of said indicators whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared.

7. A nasal comparator comprising, dual independent expansible chambers, independent coupled indicators and scribers, lever and gearing means connecting each of said chambers to said indicators and scribers, flexible tubing from each of said chambers, conical terminals for said tubing adapted to be held to a nostril outlet, comparative scales for each of said indicators and a motor driven tape to record the movements of said scribers whereby the amount of air exhaled through each nostril may be compared and recorded.

8. Apparatus for nasal comparison which comprises, pressure responsive indicating means and means for communicating exhaled air pressure for each of the users nostrils to said indicating means.

9. Apparatus for nasal comparison which comprises, indicating means and means for operating said indicating means by the comparative flow of gaseous material through each of the users nostrils.

No references cited. 

